Looking to regain his touch, Ryan Evans toys with new FT form

So after some prodding by Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan it appears Evans, who has struggled from the free-throw line beginning with a 1-for-8 showing in the opening game, will try shooting jumpers from the line.

“It’s not final yet,” Evans said after practice Sunday, adding he tried banking in free-throws with his standard form on Saturday and might try shooting underhand Monday. “I’m just kind of experimenting a little bit. It will be a game-time decision.”

“I’m in the business of winning so I’m just trying to do what I can to regain that confidence at the line," he added.

Evans’ unexpected struggles from the line this season have been dissected ad nauseum.

In his first three seasons, Evans’ free-throw shooting numbers were: 61.3%, 74.4% and 72.6%.

Evans this season has made just 40.5% of his free-throw attempts (51 of 126).

“It felt good today but like I said we’ll see what tomorrow brings,” Evans said. “It’s just a confidence thing right now…

"I’ll try anything. We’re out here to win games. If that’s how I can help the team, that’s how it needs to be done.

“I’d be a fool to say it hasn’t affected me throughout the season. It definitely has.”

Teammates Jared Berggren and Ben Brust like what they have seen from Evans the last few days in practice.

“He was shooting them in practice the other day (Friday) and about every time I looked over he was making them,” Berggren said. “I think it is a good decision for him. He has more confident in that shot. I think it will be good for him.”

Brust added: “He just looks so much more comfortable and confident. You can just see it in his face.”

Mike Bruesewitz, as he is known to do, added a bit of levity.

“Whatever helps him knock it down,” Bruesewitz said. “If it doesn’t look orthodox, that’s OK. Because I don’t look orthodox. I don’t look like a Division I basketball player.

“If he can knock down free throws that way, I’m all for it.”

Freshman Sam Dekker noted Evans is a consistent threat as a mid-range jump-shooter.

“He is so much better from there than from at the free-throw line,” Dekker said. “If it goes in, props to him.

“We want it to go in. I don’t care what it looks like. He could throw underhand for all I care. If it goes in, it goes in.”

Dekker can commiserate with Evans because he was shooting a chilly 58.1% from the line (18 of 31) entering Big Ten play.

According to Dekker, UW assistant Lamont Paris noticed a few flaws in Dekker’s form. The pair worked together and Dekker has hit 11 of 13 attempts (84.6%) in league play.

“Coach Paris worked with me a lot,” Dekker said, adding he changed his release point. “I was doing stuff mechanically and I didn’t even know it. I didn’t notice what was wrong until he worked with me after practice.